Wire-stretcher.



H. P. OWENS.

WIRE STRETCHER. APPLlCATION FILED AUG-14,1914.

1,144,31Q. Patented June 22, 1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO. PHOTO-LITHO WASHINGTON. D. C.

HORACE P. OWENS, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

WIRE-STRETGHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22, 1915.

Application filed August 14, 1914. Serial No. 856,767.

To all whom it may concern 1 Be it known that I, HoRAon P. OWENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented certainnew. and useful Improvements in Wire-Stretchers; and I do hereby declare the followin to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in devices for stretching wire fences and the like.

The object of my invention is to provide an eflicient and compact device of this class in which the operating means can be alternately controlled through the action of engaging pawls, thereby assuring a continu ous and even pull upon the wire being stretched.

Another object of my invention is the pr0- vision of a wire stretching device including in combination a novel frame, post-engaging means formed on said frame, and an operating mechanism positioned within the frame for successively engaging the wire when being stretched.

The invention further consists in the combination and novel arrangement of the several parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved wire stretching device when in position for stretching a w re fence. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device showing the position of the two alternating.

' the position of the pawls when onepf the chain-engaging members is being used. Fig. 4: is a plan view thereof, and Fig. 5 is a detail view similar to Fig. 3, illustrating the reverse position of the pawls when the other chain engaging member is being operated.

Referring to the drawings, the present invention comprises a U-shaped frame having a post-engaging means formed thereon, a chain receiving and winding mechanism located in the said frame and means, including a plurality of pawls, for operating the said chain receiving and winding mechanism. The U-shaped frame 1 is provided device.

with the side bars 2 and 3, the ends of which are preferably enlarged as at 4 and 5 so as to confine the chains, as will be hereinafter described. The cross bar 6 coimects the two sides and also has extending therefrom a post engaging member 7. As shown, this post-engaging member is square and is provided with a securing bolt 8 for firmly holding the device upon the post 9. Any other design of engaging member, however, can be used, according to the style of securing post found most convenient.

J ournaled in the enlarged ends 1 and 5 of the side bars is a cross shaft 10. Secured to the shaft and located in the center thereof is a gear 11. Each side of this gear together with the enlarged ends 4 and 5, forms a receiving station for the respective chains 12 and 13 which are also secured to the shaft 10, see Fig. 4:. Positioned within the frame and a secured to another cross shaft 14 is a pinion 15 adapted to mesh with the gear 11. Upon one end of this shaft 11 is formed an eye 15 for the reception of a turning bar 16 through which the device is operated. V Cooperating with this operating mechanism, and more particularly the pin- 10D 15, are a plurality of pawls 18 and 19. These pawls are-pivoted at 20 and 21 in suitable bearings formed on the side bars and are adapted to alternately engage the pinion 15, as will now be described.

1 As shown in Fig. 3, the pawl 19 is in engagement with the teeth of the pinion 15, the pawl 18 resting upon the upper surface of the pawl 19 and providing for an effective engagement of the pawl 18 with the pinion 15. Assuming the shaft 14 to be rotated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3, the pinion 15 will revolve, the teeth thereof passing beneath the pawl 19, and the large gear 11 will be rotated. As the gear 11 is operated the shaft 10, to which the chains are secured, will be rotated and the chain 12 will be wound upon the shaft within its receiving station, thereby effecting the stretching of the wire. As the chain 12 is being wound within its receiving station, the chain 13 is being unwound and paid out, thereby releasing it for the next hold upon the wire in effecting the continuous operation of the When the chain 12 has been sufliciently wound in the operation of stretching, the pawl 19 will drop into one of the teeth of the pinion 15 and lock the device against any tendency to release the stretched wire.

The released chain 13 will now be secured to the wire in taking another hold thereon, as shown in Fig. 2. Suitable clips 22 are provided for engaging the wire, but any other desired means may be employed. The chain 13 having been secured to the stretched wire the pawls are now reversed, the pawl 18 engaging the pinion 15 and the pawl 19 resting upon the upper surface thereof, as shown in Fig. 5. In reversing the pawls,'the device is prevented from operating by reason of the released chain having been secured to the wire, as will be readily under stood. lVhen in this position, the shaft 14: is again rotated in an opposite direction to the arrow above mentioned and shown,and the chain 13 is gradually wound upon the shaft lOwithin its receiving station; the chain 12 which has been heretofore wound in the preceding operation being paid out or released.

The post to which the device is attached may be braced as by 23, the said brace being suitably anchored within the ground, as shown. The set screw or bolt 8 also permits of a ready adjustment of the device upon the post in stretching wires at different heights.

While I have shown my device as applied in stretching a wire, I do not limit myself to this use alone, as it may be useful in many analogous arts which properly fall within its adaptation.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that an eiiicient and practical device is provided, the associated parts of which can be readily manipulated in a minimum amount of time and with a small degree of labor.

What I claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the class described includ- C'opies of this patent may be obtained for ing in combination a U shaped frame having a post engaging means provided on one end of said frame,'means for stretching the Wire including a cross shaft having a gear mounted thereon, a second gear engaging said first of said frame, means forstretching the wire,

means for ro- 2. A device of the class described includincluding a plurality of operating andrecelvlng statlons comprising across shaft, a

gear secured to said shaft, a secondgear-of less diameter than the first mentioned gear adapted to mesh with sald gear, an operating shaft for said second gear, independent gripping chains secured to the cross shaft upon opposite sides of the first mentioned gear and between the sides of the frame and thesides of the saidgear, aplurality of gravitating pawls mounted above said sec- 7..

0nd gear and arranged to alternately engage the said second gear in the stretching operation, andmeans for rotating the same.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HORACE P. a Witnesses THOMAS DURANT, WM. E. Dyan.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D; 0. 1 

